Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
James Blake is a master of contrasts and restraint—understanding that too much of a good thing can knock people over. The good thing in question, of course, is his marvel of a voice, which effortlessly sails from its rich natural baritone to a songbird-in-the-cloud falsetto. It can match the high drama of an opera star and sometimes you get the feeling that, if used for evil, it could wipe out a landscape. So on his fifth album's opener "Famous Last Words," an aural cocoon of gently pulsing R&B with gospel flourishes, the strings and piano drop out periodically so as not to suck up all the oxygen. (It's like the musical equivalent of Coco Chanel's adage: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.") "Coming Back" sways with lush piano and Blake's high-frequency "So I take it all! Take it all! Take it all back," before SZA slinks in and brings a cool, crisp edge—like a knife through full-fat butter. Love song "I'm So Blessed You're Mine" balances between The Voice singing alongside low-key instrumentation and ghostly "whoo"-ing over a busy hip-hop beat, sweeping strings and deep bass. Sometimes Blake ducks out all together—letting rappers Swavay and JID take over whole chunks of the strikingly spooky "Frozen." Soulful singer Monica Martin features on moody "Show Me," with Blake's baritone wearily intoning "I heard you had a sweet way..." before ascending to deliver the kicker: "That I've yet to see." Finger-snapping "Foot Forward" covers smooth piano R&B; "Life Is Not the Same" mixes a jazz mood, a low-key trap beat and a melody that recalls Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" era, Blake's voices wavering and quivering and sustaining like some hypnotizing force. But the scene-stealer here—indeed, one of the most stunning tracks Blake has ever recorded—is "Say What You Will," a collaboration with singer-songwriter Finneas (best known as Billie Eilish's brother and producer). World-weary and clever, it uses melancholy strings, choir-boy sighs and an ethereal melody to build a tastefully lush bed. "I look okay in the magic hour/ In the right light with the right amount of power," Blake sings. "I might not make all those psychopaths proud/ At least I can see the facеs of the smaller crowds." He has said: "The song is about finding peace with who you are and where you're at regardless of how well other people seem to be doing." Considering he's a favorite of Kanye West, has collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and has made a stellar album, it's unclear who he even has to be envious of at this point. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz
More infoYou are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
James Blake, Producer, Mixer, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Khushi, Producer, Additional Producer - Denzel Michael-Akil Baptiste, ComposerLyricist - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Take A Daytrip, Producer, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - David Charles Marshall Biral, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Hal Ritson, Guitar, Piano, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Adlam, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - James Blake, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dominic Maker, Vocals, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - SZA, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Khushi, Producer, Additional Producer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brittany Hazzard, ComposerLyricist - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Brad Bustamante, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Matt Scatchell, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Co-Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Khushi, Producer, Additional Producer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Andre Jones, ComposerLyricist - James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Destin Route, ComposerLyricist - Swavay, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - JID, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dominic Maker, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Khushi, Producer, Co-Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Josh Stadlen, Producer, Additional Producer - Carl Bespolka, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Kalim Graham Patel, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Ali Tamposi, ComposerLyricist - Barry Mann, ComposerLyricist - Dan Hill, ComposerLyricist - James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Dukes, Producer - Leland Wayne, ComposerLyricist - Metro Boomin, Producer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tristan Hoogland, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Additional Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Monica Martin, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Khushi, Producer, Additional Producer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Matt Scatchell, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Co-Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Josh Stadlen, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Ali Tamposi, ComposerLyricist - James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Khushi, Producer, Additional Producer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Carl Bespolka, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Dom Maker, Producer, Additional Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Rick Nowels, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Mellotron, Rhodes , AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dean Reid, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake, Producer, Vocals, Synth Bass, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - John Christopher Fee, Engineer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Nico Muhly, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Blake, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Blake Litherland, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Schram, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Arnold, A&R - Jameela Jamil, Producer, Additional Producer - Bryan Montesano, A&R Coordinator
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Album review
James Blake is a master of contrasts and restraint—understanding that too much of a good thing can knock people over. The good thing in question, of course, is his marvel of a voice, which effortlessly sails from its rich natural baritone to a songbird-in-the-cloud falsetto. It can match the high drama of an opera star and sometimes you get the feeling that, if used for evil, it could wipe out a landscape. So on his fifth album's opener "Famous Last Words," an aural cocoon of gently pulsing R&B with gospel flourishes, the strings and piano drop out periodically so as not to suck up all the oxygen. (It's like the musical equivalent of Coco Chanel's adage: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.") "Coming Back" sways with lush piano and Blake's high-frequency "So I take it all! Take it all! Take it all back," before SZA slinks in and brings a cool, crisp edge—like a knife through full-fat butter. Love song "I'm So Blessed You're Mine" balances between The Voice singing alongside low-key instrumentation and ghostly "whoo"-ing over a busy hip-hop beat, sweeping strings and deep bass. Sometimes Blake ducks out all together—letting rappers Swavay and JID take over whole chunks of the strikingly spooky "Frozen." Soulful singer Monica Martin features on moody "Show Me," with Blake's baritone wearily intoning "I heard you had a sweet way..." before ascending to deliver the kicker: "That I've yet to see." Finger-snapping "Foot Forward" covers smooth piano R&B; "Life Is Not the Same" mixes a jazz mood, a low-key trap beat and a melody that recalls Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" era, Blake's voices wavering and quivering and sustaining like some hypnotizing force. But the scene-stealer here—indeed, one of the most stunning tracks Blake has ever recorded—is "Say What You Will," a collaboration with singer-songwriter Finneas (best known as Billie Eilish's brother and producer). World-weary and clever, it uses melancholy strings, choir-boy sighs and an ethereal melody to build a tastefully lush bed. "I look okay in the magic hour/ In the right light with the right amount of power," Blake sings. "I might not make all those psychopaths proud/ At least I can see the facеs of the smaller crowds." He has said: "The song is about finding peace with who you are and where you're at regardless of how well other people seem to be doing." Considering he's a favorite of Kanye West, has collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and has made a stellar album, it's unclear who he even has to be envious of at this point. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:42
- Main artists: James Blake
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Republic Records - Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release) ℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. (A Republic Records / Polydor Records Release)
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.